2018 Conference Tourney Primer

At least one team from the 32 “all-sport” Division I conferences receives an automatic bid to the NCAA March Madness Tournament. Before the college basketball season heats up throughout March, get ready for the craziness with our 2018 Conference Tourney Primer.

CONFERENCE

Teams

Teams in Conf.
Tourney

Reg. Ssn Conf.
Games

Balanced Schedule

Reg. Ssn Ends

Tourney Starts

Tourney Format*

Conf. Tourney
Final

Hashtag

America East

9

8

16

Yes

2/27/18

3/3/18

Reseeded

3/10/18

#aeplayoffs

American

12

12

18

No

3/4/18

3/8/18

Std

3/11/18

#americanhoops

Atlantic 10

14

14

18

No

3/3/18

3/7/18

Staggered – Qtr

3/11/18

#a10mbb

Atlantic Coast

15

15

18

No

3/3/18

3/6/18

Staggered – Qtr

3/10/18

#accmbb

Atlantic Sun

8

8

14

Yes

2/22/18

2/26/18

Std

3/4/18

#asunmbb

Big 12

10

10

18

Yes

3/3/18

3/7/18

Std

3/10/18

#big12mbb

Big East

10

10

18

Yes

3/3/18

3/7/18

Std

3/10/18

#bigeastmbb

Big Sky

12

12

18

No

3/3/18

3/6/18

Std

3/10/18

#bigskymbb

Big South

10

10

18

Yes

2/24/18

2/27/18

Std

3/4/18

#bigsouthmbb

Big Ten

14

14

18

No

2/24/18

2/28/18

Staggered – Qtr

3/4/18

#b1gtournament

Big West

9

8

16

Yes

3/3/18

3/8/18

Std

3/10/18

#bwcmbb

Colonial

10

10

18

Yes

2/24/18

3/3/18

Std

3/6/18

#caachamps

Conference USA

14

12

18

No

3/3/18

3/7/18

Std

3/10/18

#cusambb

Horizon

10

10

18

Yes

2/24/18

3/2/18

Std-2 day Qtrs

3/6/18

#hlmbb

Ivy League

8

4

14

Yes

3/3/18

3/10/18

Std

3/11/18

#oneivy

Metro Atlantic

11

11

18

No

2/24/18

3/1/18

Std-2 day Qtrs

3/5/18

#maachoops

Mid-American

12

12

18

No

3/2/18

3/5/18

Std

3/10/18

#maction

Mid-Eastern

13

12

16

No

3/1/18

3/5/18

Std-2 day Qtrs

3/10/18

#meachoops

Missouri
Valley

10

10

18

Yes

2/24/18

3/1/18

Std

3/4/18

#archmadness

Mountain West

11

11

18

No

3/3/18

3/7/18

Std

3/10/18

#mwmadness

Northeast

10

8

18

Yes

2/24/18

2/28/18

Reseeded

3/6/18

#necmbb

Ohio Valley

12

8

18

No

2/24/18

2/28/18

Staggered -Semi

3/3/18

#ovchoops

Pac-12

12

12

18

No

3/3/18

3/7/18

Std

3/10/18

#pac12mbb

Patriot

10

10

18

Yes

2/24/18

2/27/18

Reseeded

3/7/18

#plmbb

Southeastern

14

14

18

No

3/3/18

3/7/18

Staggered – Qtr

3/11/18

#secmbb

Southern

10

10

18

Yes

2/24/18

3/1/18

Std

3/5/18

#soconhoops

Southland

13

8

18

No

3/3/18

3/7/18

Staggered -Semi

3/10/18

#southlandstrong

Southwestern

10

8

18

Yes

3/3/18

3/6/18

Std

3/10/18

#swachoops

Summit League

8

8

14

Yes

2/24/18

3/3/18

Std-2 day Qtrs

3/6/18

#summitmbb

Sun Belt

12

12

18

No

3/3/18

3/7/18

Std

3/11/18

#sunbeltmbb

West Coast

10

10

18

Yes

2/24/18

3/2/18

Std

3/6/18

#wcchoops

Western
Athletic

8

8

14

Yes

3/3/18

3/8/18

Std

3/10/18

#wacvegas

Tournament Formats Key

Reseeded

Teams reseeded after
each round with highest seed playing lowest remaining seed.

Staggered – Qtr

Top 4 seeds receive
byes to the Quarter Finals.

Staggered -Semi

Top 2 seeds receive
byes to the Semi Finals. 3rd and 4th receive byes to the Quarter Finals

Std

Standard seed layout
like the NCAA tournament

Std-2 day Qtrs

Quarter Finals played
over two days with Top 2 seeds playing on the first day for the benefit of
added rest.